GARETH Barry hailed the win at Arsenal as their best under Martin O’Neill.

“I’ve played in a lot of games, so it’s a bit difficult to recall them all, but I am sure the manager will say that was the best performance under him,’’ said Barry.

“He was so delighted with the performance – he probably could not believe it himself.

“We turned over a team who had rolled over the champions the previous week.

“It was probably the perfect game for us, really, coming off the back of two defeats where we were expected to get results.

“At Arsenal we were up against it with nothing to lose which allowed the players to relax a bit more and we showed what good players we all are.”

Barry was frusrated with referee Mike Riley for not allowing him to take the penalty which was subsequently missed by Ashley Young.

“I was disappointed,’’ said Barry, who was receiving treatment to an injury from a tackle from Cesc Fabregas at the time. “I didn’t know we had got the penalty. Then I asked the referee if I could come on and take it, but he said that the rules are that if the physios come on then I have to leave the pitch.

“It is a strange rule but if that’s the rules then you have to abide by them.”

Barry will be looking to take the next penalty that comes Villa’s way.